Sept. 26, 2013 — Real PAC, a political committee with close ties to Gov. Nathan Deal, has filed its first tax forms with the IRS, one of which was more than a year overdue. The filings raise new questions about the timing of large gifts from businesses seeking state contracts or legislation.

July 19, 2013 — A political committee run by close associates of Gov. Nathan Deal has pocketed at least $327,500 since 2012 without reporting it, apparently skirting disclosure rules and the federal tax code.

Major benefactors of the committee, Real PAC, include health-care interests seeking tens of millions — even billions — of dollars in business with state government. One donor, WellCare of Georgia, gave Real PAC $50,000 on the same day that state Medicaid officials said they planned to extend WellCare’s $1 billion-a-year contract for two years.

Dr. Robert J. Williams pleaded guilty in federal court today to two counts of health care fraud. Authorities say Williams collected $975,000 from Medicare and Medicaid for group therapy, much of which was never performed. Many of the patients were deceased when the services were allegedly provided.

Gov. Nathan Deal this week vetoed a bill that would have barred the state from paying a contingency fee to a contractor to recover Medicaid overpayments. Doctors’ groups had resisted paying auditors on a contingency basis as “perverse” and “burdensome,” but Deal said the state needs every tool available to identify Medicaid fraud.

County resources used to clear legislator’s driveway Savannah hospital CEO’s ouster to cost $900K Bibb property taxes to become more unfair under new state law, some say Audit: Medicaid companies improving

Former Thomasville hospital CEO Ken Beverly was convicted of Medicaid fraud on Wednesday, two years after he cashed out with a $6.3 million retirement package. The feds charged Beverly and the hospital’s ex-CFO fabricated records so Archbold could collect more Medicaid money. In doing so, a federal prosecutor said, large pensions were “first and foremost on their minds.”

Former CEO Ken Beverly, who pleaded not guilty last week to Medicaid fraud, walked away from his Thomasville hospital gig in 2008 with a payout of $6.3 million. Plus expenses. A federal grand jury this month accused Beverly, as chief executive of Archbold Medical Center, of falsifying records to con Medicaid out of more than $9 million for his hospital.

A defiant Preston Smith today posted this fascinating speech, in which the Rome Republican acknowledges he was removed as chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee for refusing to support the so-called hospital “bed tax.” Gov. Sonny Perdue offered the 1.45 percent tax on hospitals’ revenue to help plug a $600 million deficit in the state’s Medicaid […]